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No weight loss journey is the same. Everyone’s got a different story to tell. What someone might consider a failure, others might take to be an achievement. There are lots of different ways to measure your body, but the key to truly understanding your body is knowing how to interpret the numbers.

Earlier this week The Dallas Morning News published an online article that attempts to explain the meaning behind all those confusing body composition numbers. Our very own Dr. Nick was sited as an expert source!

Do you really know what BMI is? Well, it is your most important number. Body Mass Index is your weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Got it? Well, if not you can calculate your BMI here (at the bottom of the page.)

However, understanding your BMI is not as simple as reading a number.

Dr. Nick Nicholson, bariatric surgeon on the Baylor Plano medical staff, estimates that by BMI standards, many Dallas Cowboys players would be considered morbidly obese.

The doctors agree that you shouldn’t judge your fitness by the standards of a professional athlete. At the same time, Nicholson adds that exercise is such an important component of fitness that people with a BMI of 30 who exercise four days a week have a lower risk of a heart attack than people with a BMI of 24 who don’t exercise.

Read the full article for more information on waist circumference, weight, triceps skin-fold thickness, and bone size. PLUS a handy fitness tip straight from Dr. Nick that is easily fit into an ordinary day.

Don’t Sweat The Scale – Other Numbers May Be Better Fitness Indicators on dallasnews.com